A Lasting Effect
Due to advances in brain imaging, research strongly suggests that reading to young children beginning in early infancy has a lasting effect on brain and language development and eventual school success. Family Reading Partners works with parents to encourage early reading and conversations around books with their children.
Family Reading Partners’ Programs are informed by current research:
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, providing books and guidance to parents on reading aloud with their children has a powerful effect on the home environment and directly affects language development. AAP Literacy Promotion
In 2003, groundbreaking research from Betty Hart and Todd Risely found that children living in poverty hear fewer words than their high-income peers resulting in a word gap that can have significant impacts on the child’s reading readiness before Kindergarten. 30 Million Word Gap
Harvard University’s Center for the Developing Child explains how early experiences affect the development of brain architecture and the importance of the early years for establishing positive connections.
An imaging study of brain activity in 3-to 5-year-olds conducted in 2015 found differences in brain activation according to how much children had been read to at home. The differing levels of brain activity suggest that children who are read to and with receive amplified language development over just talking or screen related activities.
We make a meaningful impact in the lives of our families and partners.
